I am fairly new to smoking but I have been reading alot of great stuff on here. I am a machinist for a living and I built a smoker box add-on for my gas grill and have been doing all my smoking that way. I have done butts,shoulders, chops, chicken and leg of lamb with good results. I went out yesterday morning and bought an MES 30 digital with glass window at Bass Pro for $199. I ordered an AMNPS and pellets today with the black friday promotion I found on here from the posts I read. I am looking forward to learning all I can and making great smoked meat. Thanks for the advice I have already received.